How to Organize a Basketball Camp

Bringing young players together for an intensive week or more at a basketball camp can hone skills, strengthen teamwork and build friendships. The camp organizer must bring together several elements to make it a successful experience for everyone. An organizer must be committed to procuring the location, equipment and coaches as well as attending to all the little details long before the camp begins.

Things You'll Need

• Location
• Basketballs
• Coaches
• Whistles
• First-aid kits
• Ice
• Campers

Instructions

1. Decide on how many campers you will have. Start small, with no more than 21 if this is your first experience with a basketball camp. From this number, decide on how many coaches you will hire. In general, five kids per adult is good, but depending on the ages, you can have more players per adult.

2. Set your camp dates. Schedule your camp for when young players aren't in school. Weeklong camps work well, but longer camps are also well received. Also, you need to determine whether your camp will be a half or full day.

3. Rent a location for your camp. There are many choices available, including public and private parks, schools, churches and sports centers. Compare usage fees and obtain as many courts and amenities as your budget allows.

4. Hire your camp team. Screen coaches you are unfamiliar with to ascertain their past experience and qualifications. Check references and consider performing background checks through a security company. Even though these are temporary employees, they will be working with children. Take all necessary precautions.

5. Get your equipment. This will likely include basketballs and whistles. It is also common to provide each camper with a T-shirt imprinted with the name of the camp. Also, make sure you always have first-aid kits and ice available.

6. Set your camp fee. Determine a reasonable price by comparing other sports camps held in your region. Count your outgoing expenses to determine how much to charge per camper in order to make a profit.

7. Advertise to fill your camp. Distribute fliers in places such as schools and churches, and hold sign-ups at parks, supermarket parking lots (with permission) and other places where families gather.

8. Create information forms for parents to fill out. Ask for camper's birth dates, basketball experience, medical information and emergency contact information. You also need to have parents sign release forms to turn in with the camper information. Provide parents with a list of rules to review with their children. Include information on what children need to wear, such as basketball shoes, shorts and tank tops, and what they need to bring, such as a bagged lunch and bottled water.

9. Meet with your coaches before camp to discuss camp activities. Focus on drills, shooting and practice games, but also be sure to include fun activities such as contests and imaginative games. To improve ballhandling, have each player dribble two balls down the court, one in each hand. To build passing skills and court awareness, have a drill in which players fake a pass in one direction but then change and pass it in another direction. Another activity that can be played at camp is "crazy shooting." In this drill, the ball is passed till the coach blows the whistle, then the person with the ball must perform a crazy shot such as shooting while standing on one foot or while dropping to the floor. This drill conditions players to shooting the ball quickly under adverse conditions.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to get a local basketball star, college or professional, to make an appearance at your camp.

• Check local ordinances to find out if you need a license or anything else in order to legally hold your camp.